The New York Times reported in a recent article that the average amount of space per office employee in North America decreased from 225 square feet in 2010 to 176 in 2012, according to CoreNet Global, a commercial real estate association.
While smaller space means fewer expenses for a company, it also inevitably takes a toll on productivity small spaces increase the chance of distraction, and distractions can be costly.
To help combat increased noise and other distractions, the design team at Knoll implemented several "refuge rooms," which serve to offer workers a quiet space to retrieve to when necessary.
Some rooms are ideal for taking conference calls, while others are intentionally technology free, for interviews or meetings where technology is unnecessary and potentially distracting.
Especially with the emergence of smaller, more intimate work spaces, refuge rooms could be a game-changer when it comes to a company's overall success.